Wily scott fuller



(No Model.)

W. S. FULLER. AUTOMATIC FIRE EXTINGUISHER.

Patented Dec. 30, 18.90

"0., wunwcron n c UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

\YILY SCOTT FULLER, OF ORANGE, TEXAS, ASSIGNOR OF TlVO-TIIIRDS TO JOSEPH A. BROUSSARD AND SAMUEL H. VILSON.

AUTOMATIC FIRE-EXTINGUISHER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 443,912, dated December 30, 1890. Application filed October 1,1290. SorialNo.366,740. (Nomodel-l To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILY Scorr FULLER, a citizen of theUnitedStates, residingat Orange, in the county of Orange and State of Texas,

have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Autom atic Fire-Extin guishers; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

:5 Figure 1 is an elevation view of an apparatus which embodies my improvements. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the device which operates the flooding-valve. Fig. 3 is a detail View of the tumbler and trip with their connections.

My invention relates to fire extinguishers.

The objects of my improvements are to provide for automatically putting out a fire in any building in which my apparatus may be located, upon the temperature in said building or room reaching any predetermined degree. This result is accomplished by the action of an expansible fluidsuch as mercury-in a contained vessel, which actuates 0 certain hereinafter described mechanism, causing the structure to be flooded with water or with a fire-extinguishing gas or fluid.

The invention consists in the following construction and combination of parts, which will 5 first be fully described, and the features of novelty then pointed out in the claim.

In the drawings, in which the same reference-letters represent the same parts, a indicates the water-supply pipe, connected with any system of water-distribution.

b is a valve in the supply, which is preferably of the plunger straight-Way or gate valve variety, so that a reciprocating movement will open and close the valve.

c and drepresentthedistributing-pipes, and c are perforations in pipes c and d, whereby the water is evenly distributed over any desired space. These perforated pipes may be carried through all or any part of a building,

and, if desired, my improved device for automatically operating the valves may be located one in each room. I prefer to carry the perforated pipes near or along the ceiling, so that the water may more easily flood the rooms in case of fire; but they may be arranged in any effective manner.

f represents a cylinder secured in any suitable manner to the wall or other frame-work.

g is a quantity of mercury within the tube or cylinder.

h is a plunger-float adapted to rise and fall in the tubef upon the mercury.

z' is the plunger-stem, attached to the plunger at one end and its free end passing out through a central aperture in the cylinderhead It. The plunger or float stem 2 carries a pin or collar 1, which is preferably adjustable, and which engages and actuates a pivoted trip. This pivoted trip m has a bifurcated or slotted end it, within which the float-stem '0' passes with its pin Z underneath the end m of the trip.

0 is the pivotal point of the trip.

p is the frame, in which both the trip and the tumbler are pivoted. The frame may be fastened to and supported by the mercury tube or cylinder, or it may be secured to any other suitable point.

q is the tumbler, and 0' its pivotal point.

3 is a shoulder formed on the roundedhead of the tumbler, which normally engages a trigger t, formed on the inner end of the trip m and holds the arm a of the tumbler in a horizontal position.

'0 is a lever pivoted at any suitable point, as to the upright 10, supported upon the supply-pipe a. The long end of this lever normally rests upon the horizontal arm a of the tumbler q, while the shorter arm embraces the valve-stem of the supply-valve 1) between two screw or adjust-able collars thereon, which permits the lever having a slight loose play before it acts upon the valve. v

w is a weight, which is placed upon the long end of the lever near where it is placed upon the tumbler.

y is a thermometer or graduating-scale placed alongside the mercury-cylinder f.

Instead of water being introduced through the supply, a gaseous fluid or vapor may be discharged into the apartment through the to: supply-pipe or by means of any other agency.

Upon the breaking out of an incipient fire in any structure where my improved device is situated the increased temperature therein due to the tire causes the mercury to expand and rise in the tube,therebyraising the plunger or float and its valve-stem. The pin or collar on the float-stein is thus caused to bear on the under side of the trip m and raises it to such a degree that the trigger t is released from the shoulder s of the tumbler q, allowing the latter to drop. The fall of the tumbler withdraws all support from the long end of the lever and its weight, which instantly causes them to fall,tl1e lever r upon its pivot, thereby opening the supply-valve Z) to its full extent. The water being thus turned fully on rushes into the perforated pipes cand (l and out through the perforations e in streams in every direction, thereby deluging and drenching theapartment and putting out the fire before it gets any greatheadway.

Instead of mercury, alcohol or other expansible .lluid may be used; butI prefer mercury.

\Vhat I claim as new, and desire to secureby Letters Patent of the United States. is

In an automatic fire-extinguishing apparatus, the combination of a supply-pipe, a valve therein, a distributing-pipe or series of pipes, a' cylinder, a fluid, as mercury,therein, a float and float-stem, a pivoted trip adapted to be operated by the float-stem and provided with a trigger, a pivoted tumbler having a shoulder normally held by the trip, and a weighted lever supported at one end by the tumbler and connected at the other to the supply-valve, the whole combined and arranged to operate sul stantially as set Forth,

In testimony \vhereofI atfix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

\Vl LY SCOTT 1: l T L'LE R.

Witnesses:

A. (J. Buiriprrir, GORDON BULLrrT. 

